Speaking

Mick has spoken to groups and organizations all over the world, including:

•Cannes •Intel ISEF

•MMA •The One Show

•National Medical Association •Microsoft

•Design IIDA •SXSW

•Promax/BDA •American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s)

•TED •TEDxPhoenix

•TEDxKIDS @ SMU •TEDx Santa Monica

•Grey Advertising •TTI/Vanguard

•Bloomberg •Innovate2013

•Stansberry •Pfizer

•FutureM •MathWorks

•CRH •CES

•TEDYouth NYC •Aspen Ideas

Mick has spoken on the TED circuit 6 times in 2011 and has been a featured pre-recorded speaker in various TEDx events across the globe. Currently his TED talk has been seen over 500,000 times. Mick’s message may vary, but his passion, contagious energy and belief in humanity are consistently inspiring.

Mick’s audiences range from CEOs and ENTREPRENEURS to artists and schoolchildren, and his speaking topics include:

Technology + Innovation

Radical Collaboration

Take a Hollywood producer, a NY professor, a fine artist and a hacker with a criminal record…Put them together and what do you get? A device that helped a paralyzed man create drawings using only the movement of his eyes. Collaboration comes in many form, some of them unexpected. In this talk, Mick discusses the tools necessary to become a stellar collaborator, and to recognize the traits of collaboration-worthy individuals for your next big idea.

Making The Next Industrial Revolution

Industrial Revolution 2.0—it’s the next turning point in human history and we’re right in the middle of it. Industrial Revolution 2.0 has been about the birth, adolescence, and young adulthood of the Internet. It’s been about communicating, relating, evaluating, and BUYING. From social media to the Maker Movement, this “revolution” has shifted the way we live, work, and interact with one another. It revolves around the newfound global accessibility to making our own solutions. Having created one of Time Magazine’s “Top 50 Inventions” with little more than $70 of over-the-counter supplies, Mick outlines the contributing factors that make this the most exciting time in modern history and how to capitalize on it for social and business good.

Education + Business

Teaching Innovation

Everyone’s an innovator—but whether they know it or not is another story. Creative thinking takes place daily in business, family life and in relationships. Believe it or not, it can be taught. If we can teach our business leaders this process of innovation, our businesses can drive sustainable growth for years to come. Mick shatters the myths about what it takes to make a great innovator and provides useful techniques and solutions for teaching the art of innovation to improve your career and your life.

Open Source for the Classroom

“Creativity is as important as literacy,” says Sir Ken Robinson. If we can teach our children to innovate and the skills and process of innovation, we can give them the tools they need to achieve great things. Since every new invention is built on the framework of existing ideas, when information is shared freely between thinkers, radical new ideas can emerge at light-speed. Some of the most thought-provoking new inventions are coming from today’s high school and college students—due in large part to the unprecedented access they have to the research of their predecessors. How can we build curricula that stimulate today’s bright young minds? Answer: supplement the learning experience with open source ideas and technology.

What it Means to be a Maker

Contrary to popular belief, the Maker Movement is not just tech junkies in basements. On the contrary, it’s filled with artists, designers, writers, and thinkers. Makers are simply people who see a need for a solution and take the time to fill the void. Hacks, adaptations, and DIY innovation are the byproducts of regular people with creative solutions for everyday problems. In this presentation, Mick discusses the five core traits that make a Maker and how to develop those traits in yourself.

Non-Profit

Social Innovation thru Open Source

Great minds think alike. And today’s technology connects great minds at the speed of electricity. In the pre-internet era, learning was largely predicated on, or a result of, geographical access to teachers and institutions. Today, due to our near-immediate access to news and information, it is nearly impossible to not be inspired and affected by what’s happening in other cultures, time zones and schools of thought. This access, and the natural human tendency to want to share information, is at the heart of the open source movement. The goal of this talk is to inspire participants to create change and solutions within their own classrooms and communities by learning how to be part of the open source community. Thru discussion and collective brainstorming, each participant will walk away with the foundation for their own open source project.

Inspirational + General

The Fallacy of “Impossible”

Since the launch of the Eyewriter and Not Impossible Foundation, Mick has passionately studied the concept of “Impossible.” All the modern conveniences we see around us were once considered “impossible” by people who didn’t know any better. Synthetic fabrics, cell phones and digital watches (not to mention cars and computers) were all figments of the imagination until inspiration met execution and the impossible became a reality. In this talk, Mick dives deeper into “Impossible,” the underlying psychological affects it has on an organization, and how to overcome “Impossible” so true innovation can take place.

Mick's book "Not Impossible: The Art & Joy of Doing What Couldn't be Done" is now in its 5th printing.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Testimonials

Microsoft

Eric Ewing

“Mick inspired us with his message that anyone can make a positive difference right now.
There was a standing ovation at the end of his talk, and more than a year later I still hear from people that Mick motivated them to do something meaningful, to act, and to
make a difference.”

Margaret Low Smith

The Atlantic

“I wanted to take a moment to thank you for being part of the Washington Ideas Forum. You added so much to the day. Your presentation stole the show. We’ve been talking about it non-stop. What a stunning example of how technology can change lives. Thank you again for your time and enthusiastic participation. My Atlantic colleagues and I all look forward to seeing you again soon.”

Jonathan Block-Verk

Promax/BDA

“Mick draws on his experience in innovation and creative thinking to challenge others to find solutions for difficult problems. We would invite him back to speak at Promax/BDA any time.”

Hans Galutera

President, IIDA NY Chapter

“Mick has shown interior designers, architects and other industry professionals the value and importance of creativity in every possible way with his work and his humanity. His respect for artists with physical disability is an example of human perseverance and self-discovery that moved and emotionally connected with all of us.”

Hal Levin

TTI/Vanguard

“If you are looking for a speaker that brings passion, commitment, energy, vibrancy, insight, and humanity to the fold, look no further than Mick. He’s all that and more.”

Lance Amato

Past-President, IIDA NY Chapter

“Mick was one of the most engaging, inspiring, passionate speakers our association had the pleasure of having. His energy invigorated the audience to think differently about challenges… that solutions are always available with creative thinking. Still to this day, we receive praises on his presentation…and we would recommend him to any interested organization.”

Chick Foxgrover

Chief Technology Officer, 4 A’s

“We were proud and happy to have had Mick speak about his EyeWriter project at CreateTech. It tied together the themes of our creative technologies conference in a wonderfully motivating way. It was the most authentically inspiring presentations I’ve heard in a long time.”

Rich Stoddart

Global CEO, Leo Burnett

“Mick Ebeling’s presentation to our clients and staff was the best I have seen in 20 years. He is an incredible hybrid of down-to-earth, humble pragmatist and simultaneously pushing you to a whole new stratosphere of thinking. He truly makes you believe that nothing is impossible.”

Brad MacAfee

"Porter Novelli invited Mick to be our closing speaker for our Senior Leadership Conference. We wanted to leave our team full of inspiration. We wanted them to remember that the opportunities and challenges in our business are indeed possible and we can accomplish great things for our company and our clients if we commit first then figure it out. That simple act of “committing” is so powerful. When Mick talks about stories of helping people speak, to have the use of hands, to be able to paint again, these words lift up everyone and create an emotion that is long-lasting. If you are looking to inspire your team to greatness or see possibilities instead of barriers, then Mick Ebeling is the perfect person to elevate your conference."

Aurora Tice

Director, Education, Consumer Healthcare Products Association

"Mick Ebeling is “inspiring”, “life changing”, “the real deal”. He had 400 attendees hanging on his every word, captivated by his raw passion and drive to change the world, one feat at a time. If you are looking for a speaker who will elevate your meeting to the next level, he is the man for you."

Susan Carroll

Morningstar

"Thanks so much for suggesting Mick. He was just the break our attendees needed! His energy, passion, and dedication were thoroughly enjoyed by our attendees. He received a standing ovation and lots of questions afterwards."

Boris Tsimerinov

Co-Chair, Global Harvard Business School PLD Summit​

Mick is among the very best speakers we have seen live or via video. His message, delivery and authenticity hook you in, hold you there and leave you inspired to achieve what you thought was impossible!

Traci Plate

Chief of Staff, GSK Consumer Healthcare

Thank you so much for being a part of our Pride in Execution Meeting. Everyone was buzzing about your presentation and what a tremendous impact it had. It was definitely the inspirational message I wanted to close our ‘think differently” theme and meeting. Thank you for showing us the impact of helping just one person. I look forward to working with you again in the future.

Katherine B. Okon

Goldman Sachs

Mick was one of the most engaging and dynamic keynote speakers we have hosted. His message was well-received by our audience and even now, weeks after the event, I am still hearing people discuss Mick and Not Impossible labs within the hallways of our office.

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